I SUFFER from multiple sclerosis and have been in the care of Kirklees Homecare for eight years.

During this time I have been washed, dressed and given personal care with respect, professionalism, dignity and care by the Kirklees Homecare staff.

Their knowledge of my condition is that they can recognise my state of mind and how I am feeling as soon as they walk in through the door.

This level of understanding takes months if not years to achieve with some service users.

I have received a cleverly worded letter from Sue Richards, Kirklees home care service manager, regarding my transference of care to private care.

A year and a half ago I was assured by Kirklees that they have a duty to care for me when they altered the system. This reorganisation, I was told, was to enable service users greater freedom of choice and continuity.

Kirklees has always stressed we have a choice. I choose to have Kirklees in-house homecare. Now I am being told I have to have private independent homecare. I am also told who will come into my home and that I have no choice.

Kirklees has paid thousands of pounds to train competent carers and now is turning its back on all that investment and the service users to introduce strangers and less qualified people against my will.

Private companies have a reputation of missing calls, not being on time and not completing their tasks to a professional standard.

I understand Kirklees has to save money – so why are pointless projects undertaken such as computer kits which are constantly failing and no-one feels are of any benefit to the carers or service user. Where has the care gone out of Kirklees homecare?

Even I, a mere disabled dependent service user, can see the vast amount of wastage made by Kirklees councillors.

Perhaps the first port of call to save money would be to cut the numbers of Kirklees higher management and their vast salaries.

However, Kirklees homecare higher management choose to ignore any concerns of the service users and carers who work on the front line.

These are the very people who know better than anyone what impact these alterations will have on the most vulnerable in our society.

If it is the councillors and Kirklees management who are making these decisions, then they should be brave enough to visit the people who they are affecting.

Maybe then they would have a different take on what they are doing because any decent person with any amount of compassion would not be cutting to the most vulnerable.

How many of Kirklees homecare management have actually asked the service users who they wish to give them their personal care. None!

This is a democratic country where every member of the public, whether ill, disabled or vulnerable has a voice which should be used.

The council and councillors should remember to take into account that we the public have put them where they are and that we can vote them out just as easily.

(dictated by) Christine Illingworth

Liversedge

Marsden Park ‘a disgrace’

WITH reference to the recent article to the awarding of Green Flag status to parks in Kirklees, Clr David Sheard may wish to retract his statement that parks staff will go that extra mile to produce public spaces which are a credit to all those who organise and maintain them.

If he paid a visit to the Marsden Park and the other areas in Marsden Streetscene are responsible for, he would find these areas are a disgrace and he would be ashamed.

Those responsible would not survive in the real world outside the culture of Kirklees Council.

Resident

Marsden

Garden rubbish

I AM one of the lucky ones that has a garden rubbish bin which costs me £20 a year.

My husband and I are pensioners and enjoy our garden. This service is invaluable to us. Not everyone can get to the tip to dispose of garden waste.

Whilst we realise that in these times of economic downturn money has to be saved, why does the council not increase the price? I would willingly pay double.

Also, why doesn’t the council open up the service toŠ include more people? I know of quite a few who would take advantage of the scheme.

The current proposals are only going to mean that people are going to hide garden rubbish in the normal grey bins.

Mrs E Wilkinson

Mirfield

Hunting the hunters

THE hunting season is fast approaching and over the coming months wild animals will be terrorised in the countryside to satisfy a small minority’s desire to chase and kill for sport.

In an ideal world hunts would be preparing for a season of trail and drag hunting – but we know the reality is very different.

Sadly, a number of hunts are continuing to hunt as they traditionally did before the Hunting Act was passed.

However, with almost 200 convictions under the Act, it’s only a matter of time before those who think they can ride roughshod over the law will be brought to justice.

Our professional observers will be out in force this season, monitoring the activities of hunts which are believed to be breaking the law.

In order to be more efficient we need information as to where hunts are hunting, where they are meeting and when they are going out.

If you have information on your local hunts’ activities or meet cards we would urge you to pass this on to the League so we can assist the police in enforcing the law.

Joe Duckworth

Chief Executive, League Against Cruel Sports

Don’t shoot badgers

AS a former director of the League Against Cruel Sports I want to see the best solution in animal welfare terms to the difficulties many farmers are facing in dealing with Bovine TB.

What is often overlooked is the fact that the infected badgers themselves suffer a miserable death and are a reservoir for the disease.

The League’s current chief executive, Joe Duckworth, states that there will be thousands of wounded badgers if shot (Examiner, July 25).

Yet, during the numerous debates in the run-up to the passing of the Hunting Act, the League, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the RSPCA all argued that shooting foxes was more humane than hunting with hounds, despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

How is it that badgers can be wounded, but foxes appear to be immune?

James Barrington

Animal welfare consultant

Famously pricey house

EDGERTON’S Banney Royd was recently sold for nearly £2m, making it one of Huddersfield’s most expensive houses.

It’s interesting that it was put on the market five years earlier at £5m after being sold off by Kirklees Council back in 1995 for a price confirmed in a recent Freedom of Information request of £650,000!

The house was designed by Architect Edgar Wood and built in 1902 for cloth manufacturer Sir Emmanuel Hoyle and is the only Grade 1 building of 85 listed in the Edgerton conservation area.

Kenn Winter

Lindley

Brilliant help for club

I WOULD like to thank IViewCameras.co.uk, of Leeds Road, who recently installed a security system at our club. We have, since 1998, provided a first class service for young and old alike, teaching not only the sport of amateur boxing but more importantly the old school values of manners/discipline which I feel has been lost in recent times.

I cannot thank the company enough. It shows there are people out there who support our work which we are finding harder and harder to sustain.

I know there is a shortage of funds with everyone but IViewcamera.co.uk have hopefully shown that helping a group like ours who help the community is the way forward.

Without our club, countless young people would not have a direction in life so I ask after the trouble and possible closure over the last 12 months for people support RABC and help us to help your community.

Mark Reynolds

Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club

Dogs get obese too

MANY Huddersfield residents may have noticed the ever-expanding waistlines of dogs walking on the high street.

Whilst this may not seem overly worrying, the dangers of being severely obese are the same as those for people.

Pets that are allowed to wolf down cake, biscuits, cheese and even hamburgers are much more likely to develop a serious disease and never reach old age. One small plain biscuit for an average dog is the equivalent of us eating a hamburger.

However it’s not just a bad diet that’s causing problems. Owners must remember to take their animals out for a run in the park as often as possible.

Will Wright

Four Paws